Can-opener



R. H. WALLER.

CAN OPENER. APPLICATIGN FILED JUNE16, 192'0.

L398A1Q; Patented M. ML, mm.

Z VMX IF INVENTOR ATTORNEY ROBERT HENRY WALLER, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,

ASSIGNOR, nY MESNE ASSIGN- MEN'T'S, T0 QUICZKSAFE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,

A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

CAN-OPENER.

Application filed June 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT H. WALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification. j

The present invention relates to means for opening tin cans.

The general object of the invention is to provide a can opener whose construction is simple, substantial and easy to work with. Another object is to provide a can opener which is adjustable for all sizes of cans.

A further object is to provide a can opener which employs a rotary cutter in combina-- tion with a gage roller adapted to run along the inside of the bead of the can and be forced against said bead'while being rotated in conjunction with said cutter.

A still further object is to provide a can opener employing a disk cutter and roller which. recelve the bead of the can between them and po sitively rotate the can while the cut is being made.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and 1 modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as r expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:- 1

Figure 1 is an elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown clamped upon the edge of a table and in the act of cutting open a tin can.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the position of the cutter and roller in conjunction with one end of a tin can.

The numeral 5" designates a table, only so much of. the latter being shown as is necessary. The table 5 has a top 6. A casting 7 is provided with arms 8, 9 projecting in parallel relation from the side of the casting and spaced apart a suflicient distance to admit of the table top 6 being introduced between them. The lower and heavier of Specification of Letters Patent.

,tubular, which is run Patented @ct. 11, 192T. 1920. Serial No. 389,391.

the arms 9 is screw-threaded to receive a clamping thumb screw 10 adapted to engage with the under side of the top 6 whereby the casting Tmay be held clamped to the table.

The casting 7 has a cylindrical bore running lengthwise thereof and forms a kind of a collar for a standard 11, preferably through the bore of the castlng and held in adjusted position. The casting 7 is provided with a pair of cars 13 projecting from the side opposite to where the arms 8 and 9 are provided, and providing a support for a pivotal element of an eccentric clamp 12. A slot 14 is provided in the side of the casting 7, opening into the longitudinal bore thereof for receiving the cam edge of the eccentric lever 12. This lever provides means by which the standard 11 is held in any desired position relative to the casting 7. Obviously, as the standard 11 is tubular it may be turned within the bore of the casting and it ma be moved up and down relatively to the table. After the standard is in the desired position, the eccentric clamp 12 will be pressed downwardly, whereupon its icam edge will loclcwith the standard 11 and hold the same securely in place against all move ment. i

The standard 11 carries a body 15 at its upper end, the body 15 being secured to the standard by cross pins 16 or similar means; thus, the body 15 and standard 11 are fixed relatively to each other, whereby when the standard is adjusted within the clamp which has been described. the body 15 will be maintained in that position. The upper end of the body '15 has a bearing 17 for receiving a crank shaft 18. One end of the crank shaft 18 has a crank 19 secured thereto, said crank including an arm and any convenient form of handle, as shown. The oppositeend of shaft 18 carries a miter gear 20.

An arm 21 extends horizontally outwardly from the body 15, and a second and lower arm 22 is also provided parallel to arm 21. The shaft 23 has hearings in arms 2.1 and 22 so that the shaft 23 is vertical and is rotatable in said bearings. The upper end of the shaft 23 carries a gear wheel compiisingthe miter gear teeth 24 and the spur gear teeth 25. The lower end of the shaft 23 carries a disk cutter which, when rotated, cuts into the tin can, The disk cutter,

shown more clearly in Fig. 3, comprises the beveled disk 26 having a knife edge 27. This disk cutter is secured upon a collar and has its knife edge projecting beyond said collar. The collar 25* is adapted to engage with the periphery of the bead of the can, while the knife edge is forced inwardly into the side wall of the can. immediately below the end wall thereof. An annular shoulder 24*, larger in diameter than the shaft 23 but smaller than the collar 25*, properly spaces the disk cutter and collar below the arm 22, so that said arm does not interfere with either the cutting operation or with the rotation of the can.

A'shaft 28 is supported near the outer end of arm 21 and carries a spur gear '29 whose teeth mesh with the spur teeth 25. The arm 22 has a longitudinally-extending slot 3]. provided for approximately half of its length, which slot receives a block 30 pro.- vided uponthe lower end of the shaft- 28.

- The block 30 may he slid along the arm 22 which is in fact bifurcated as indicated at 33. The extreme lower end of shaft 28 is fast to a roller 32 adapted to engage with the inside of the can bead. The bifurcated end of arm 22 carries a pivotal element upon which an eccentric clamp-34 is mounted. The eccentric clamp 34 has its cam edge in position to engage with a face of the block 30, whereby when the eccentric clamp 34 is pushed downwardly or depressed, the. block 30 will be slid along the slot, carrying with it the end of shaft 28 and the roller 32. The shaft 28 is rotatable within the block 30 and the roller 32, being fixed upon the lower end of the shaft 28, is also rotatable. Thus, when the crank 19 is turned, the miter gear 20 causes turning of the gear upon the upper end of shaft 23 with consequent rotation of cutter 26 and roller 32. p

.When the eccentric clamp 34 is swung upwardly, the block 30 may be moved outwardly toward the end of arm 22, whereupon the space between the peripheries of the collar 25 and roller 32 becomes great enough to permit the introduction therebetween of the bead of a can of any size whatever. One form of can 35 is shown in the drawings as having a bead 36. Any other type of can which has a raised edge at either end may be opened by employing the device of the present invention. The roller 32 is' of much smaller diameter than any commercial size of can, but is of approximately the same size as the collar 25. The eccentric clamp 34 forces the roller 32 against the inside of the bead, thereby moving the can bead against the periphery of collar 25". The shaft 23 being held against all movement except that vof axial rotation, prevents any movement of collar 25 and hence of the cutter when the can is moved against the cutter. When the crank arm 1s turned, the bead 36 is .ing from the body, a shaft supporte gripped by the positively driven or rotated collar 25 and roller 32, thereby forcing rotation ofthe can. As fast as the can moves around, the knife edge 27 enters the wall of the can immediately below the end thereof, since the bottom of the roller 32 is spaced above the edge 27 by a distance at least equal to the thickness of the endwall of the can.

The device of the present invention is adjustable to the kind of support upon which work is being done, to the position of the can on the support, to the height of the can to be opened, and to the thickness of the bead of the can. Its construction is extremely simple, it is easy and rapid in operation, and may be readily manufactured.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a can opener, a rotary cutter or knife, a roller for engagement withthe inside of the bead of the can, meaiis for permitting swinging of the roller about a horizontal axis elevated with respect to the roller means for swinging the roller against the bead and holding it there, whereby the roller exerts a pressure on the head to force the can against the knife, and means for positively turning both. the rotary cutter and the roller irrespective of the thickness of the interposed bead to effect opening of the can.

2. In a can opener, a. body, a pair of horizontally-extending arms in projecting relation to saidbody, a pair of shafts mounted between said arms, one of said shafts carrying a disk cutter at its lower end and being rotatable with respect to said arms but otherwise immovably held, means for rotating the first-named shaft, the other shaft being positively driven by rotation of the first-named shaft, means on the lower arm for adjustably receiving the second named shaft whereby its position withrespect to the cutter may be changed, and an eccentric clamp mounted on the lower arm for holding the second shaft against movement away from the first shaft.

3. In a can opener, a body, arms pro'ectb said arms and rotatable in bearings there in, means for turning said shaft, :1 disk cutter on one end of said shaft, a second shaft supported by said arms so that one end is swingable toward and from the disk cutter, a block on the swingable end, means on the corresponding arms for providing a guide for said block, ,the second shaft being rotatable in the block while the block is slidable on its supporting arm, a roller mounted on the'second shaft to turn therewith adjacent the block, and means on the arm which carries the block for holding the block against sliding along its arm.

4. In a can opener, a body, arms projecting from the body, a shaft supported by said arms and rotatable in bearings therein,

jacent the block, and

madam means for turning said shaft, a disk cutter on one end of said shaft, a second shaft supported by said arms so that one end is swingable toward and from the disk cutter, aiblock on the swingable end, means on the corresponding arm for providing a guide for said block, the second shaft being rotatable in the block while the block is slidable on its supporting arm, a roller mounted on the second shaft to turn therewith adan eccentric clamp pivotally mounted on the outer end of the arm which carries the block for engagement with one face of the block to prevent sliding of the block in one direction and to maintain the spacing between the roller and the cutter during the operation of the machine.

5. In a can opener, a body, arms projecting from the body,a shaft supported by said arms and rotatable in bearings therein, means for turning said shaft, a disk cutter on one end of said shaft, a second shaft supcutter shaft ported by said arms so that one end is swingable toward and from the disk cutter, means for mechanically connecting the two shafts at one end effects rotation of the second shaft, a block on the swingable end, means on the corresponding arm for providing a guide'for said block, the second shaft being rotatable in the block while the block is slidable on its supporting arm, aroller mounted on the second shaft to turn therewith adjacent the block, and means on the arm which carries the block for holding the block against sliding along its arm, whereby the roller is held pressed against the inside of the can bead with the disk cutter on the outside of the can and directly opposing said pressure. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto atiixed my signature.

' ROBERT HENRY WALLER.

whereby rotation of the 

